Condenser



Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,268

J. F. GRACE CONDENSER Filed AUE- 5. 1926 ATTORNEY JouNEGRAc E. I

Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED [STATES 1,650,268 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. GRACE, F ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WOR'I'HINGTON PUMP AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01' VIB- GmIA.

CONDENSER.

Application filed August 3, 1926. Serial No. 128,772.

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a condenser in which leakage of cooling water, circulated 5 through the tubes of the condenser, into the steam chamber and its mixing with the condensate will be prevented.

In steam condensers the temperature of the tubes is constantly fluctuating and the 0 difierence between the temperature of the tubes adjacent to the steam inlet and those remote therefrom. of .a condenser operating with the varying load is constantly fluctuating through a widerange. Because of this 5 it has heretofore been the practice to provide stufiing box connections for one or both ends of the tubes with the tube heads in order to accommodate the expansion and contraction of the tubes. Such stuffing box connections are objectionable for various reasons. one of which is the difiiculty in avoiding leakage, especially as the temperatures to whichthey are sometimes subjected are so high as to injuriouslyafiect the packing in the stufiing boxes so that leakage results. In the present pure water power plant systems. where boiler feed water is purified by degasification, etc., to eliminate to the greatest possible extent corrosion and other detrimental actions on the boiler tubes. pumps, etc., employed in the power plant, it is highly desirable to prevent the circulatingcooling water. which is not treated for purification, from leaking from the tubes and mixing with the condensate or boiler feed water as such mixing counteracts to .a certain extent the action of the purifying mechanism of the system.

To overcome such leakage it is necessary to provide fluid tight connections between the tubes and tube heads of the condenser.

and in so doing cognizance must be taken of and compensation made for variances in the temperatures in the condenser, variances in the expansion and contraction relation of the tubes with the shell or casing of the condenser and also diflerence in temperatures locally within the condenser, whereby the tubes in one set or bank or in one 10- cation of the interior of the condenser will be subjected to greater or less temperatures and temperature variances than tubes in another part of the condenser.

Itis an object of the present invention one of the tube heads is attached and an ex- 1 pansion joint between the tube head and condenser shell to permit movement of the tube head'and water box relative to the condenser shell to compensate for expansion and contraction of the condenser tubes under heat variances, and it also embodies adjustable plvotal supporting connection between the condenser-shell and the water box to per-- mlt movement of the water box to compensate for localized variances of temperatures within the condenser.

With these objects in view. the invention consists in various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanymg drawings, showing a condenser of the preferred form embodying the invention, and the'features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a condenser constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a'slightly enlarged elevation of one end of the condenser having parts broken away. 4

Figure 3 is an end view of the condenser having parts broken away and Figure 4 is a slightly enlarged detail section illustrating the expansion joint connection between. the condenser-shell and tubehead and water box.

Referring more particularly to the drawmgs. the surface condenser comprises the shell 1 having an exhaust steam inlet 2 through which the exhaust steam to be condensed enters the condenser and passes therethrough transversally to the tubes 3 which extend longitudinally through the shell 1 of the condenser. Cooling water for condensing the steam is circulated through the tubes 3 and water boxes 4 and 5, while the condensate passes to the hotwell 6 from which it is drawn in any suitable manner. To prevent leakage of the circula d cooling water into the condensate chamber and its resulting mixing with the condensate, the tubes 3 are expanded into the tube heads, one of which is shownat 6 in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. While the tubes 3 are shown expanded into the tube heads, it is to be understood that they may be connected to the tube heads in any suitable manner so as to rovide a fluid tight joint.

wing to the fluctuation of temperatures within a condenser operating upon varying loads, it is necessary to provide compensa tion for the expansion and contraction of the tubes 3 under the heat variances so as to prevent rupturing of the connections between the tubes and tube heads. In the present embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, the tube head 6 is attached to the water box 5 and is free from connection with the shell 1 of the condenser except through the expansion joint 7 which is a gasket of flexible material, preferably rubber or a composition of rubber and cloth. or any suitable material found adaptable for the purpose, which will not corrode or deteriorate upon contact with the water and steam in the condenser shell. The gasket 7, which forms the expansion joint is clamped against and attached to the flange 8 onthe shell 1 by a clamping ring 9, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Owing to the fact that the temperature of the tubes 3 in certain localities within the shell 1 is greater and fluctuates more than the temperatures of tubes in other portions of the shell 1, provision is made to permit of a pivotal or rocking movement of the water box 5 and the tube head 6, relative to the shell 1; and this provision is made through the adjustable pivotal joint structure 10.

The adjustable pivotal joint structure 10 comprises bracket plates 11 which are attached to brackets 12 formed on the shell 1. Arms 13 are pivotally connected, as shown at 14, to the braclget plates 11 and are adjustably connected through the medium of turn buckles 15 with corresponding arms 16 which are pivotally mounted upon studs 18 thread ed into suitable bosses 19'. formed on the water box 5 in alignment with the horizontal axis of the water box. The pivotal connection of the arms 13 and 16 to theshell 1 and the water box 5 respectively, will permit a pivotal movement of the water box on its horizontal axis and a corresponding movement of the tube head 6 to compensate for variances in the expansion and contraction of the tubes above and below the point of pivotal connection with the water It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that these may be modified widely within the invention defined by the claims.

The bosses 19 are What is claimed is:

1. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tubehead carried thereby, a flexible connection between the water box and shell, and means connecting said water box and shell to permit pivotal movement of the water box relative to the shell.

2. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, and a rockable supporting connection between said shell and water box to permit pivotal movement of the water box relative to the shell.

3. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, and adjustable rockable supporting connection between said shell and water box to permit pivotal movements of the water box relative to the shell.

4. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, supporting rods pivotally connected to said water box and said shell to permit pivotal movement of the water box relative to the shell.

5. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, an expansion joint between the water box and shell, and supporting rods pivotally connected to said water box and said shell to permit pivotal movement of the water box relative to the shell.

6. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, adjustably connected supporting rods pivotally connected to said water box and to said shell to permit pivotal movement of the water box relative to the shell.

7. In a surface condenser. a shell, a water box, and adjustable means pivotally connecting said water box and shell.

8. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, an expansion joint between said water box and shell, and adjustable means pivotally connecting said water box and shell.

9. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box. a tube head, a flexible gasket engaged between said tube head and water box and attached to said shell for forming an expansion joint between the shell and water box and tube head, and supporting connections between the water box and shell to permit movement of the water box and tube head relative to the shell;

10. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube head carried thereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube head, a fluid tight expansion joint between said water box and shell, and adjustable means pivotally connecting said water box and shell.

11. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube head carried thereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube head, a-fluid tight expansion joint between cent to its top.

12. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, adjustably connected supporting rods pivotally connected to said water box in the horizontal plane passing through its axis and pivotally connected to said shell adjacent to its top to permit swin 'ing pivoted movement of the'wate-r box relative to the shell.

13. In a condenser, a shell, a water box, brackets on said shell adjacent to its top, rods pivotally connected to said brackets, rods pivotally connected to said water box in the horizontal plane passing through its axis, and adjustable means connecting the 7 .rods pivotally connected to said water box in the horizontal plane passing through its axis, adjustable means connecting the water box carried rods to the corresponding brack et carried rods, and a fluid tight expansion oint between said water box and shell. 4

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

. JOHN F. GRACE. 

